How Africa's Largest Ivory Smuggling Ring Got Busted

Ofir Drori, our 2012 Environmental Award winner, founded the Last Great Ape Association, or LAGA, in 2002 as a way to fight illegal wildlife trafficking. Today, the Cameroon-based independent law enforcement organization helps convict one major dealer each week, on average. Here's how they caught one of the most damaging rings:

Ofir Drori, our 2012 Environmental Award winner, founded the Last Great Ape Organization, or LAGA, in 2002 as a way to fight illegal trafficking of ivory, gorillas, and other wildlife across Africa. Today, the Cameroon-based independent law enforcement organization helps convict one major dealer each week, on average. Here's how they caught one of the most damaging rings:

1 In 2006, a container full of used tires arrives in Douala from Hong Kong and is sent to a house in Yaounde, Cameroon’s capital.

2 The container’s false compartment is loaded with 3.9 tons of ivory, and the rest is filled with timber.

3 A ship takes the container from Douala to Hong Kong, where customs officials inspect the shipment, find the hidden ivory, and alert Cameroon’s government.

4 The government requests that the LAGA team trace the operation; they do, to the house in Yaounde.

5 At the house, Cameroon customs officials and LAGA members discover two more modified containers with ivory traces and paperwork indicating the transport of at least 12 previous shipments along that route. According to investigators, around 5,500 elephants may have been killed.

6 LAGA members collect physical evidence from the containers; DNA tests suggest that the ivory came from hundreds of closely related elephants living in Gabon, igniting international alarm about the resurgence of poaching.

7 The LAGA and government investigators gather enough evidence to have the three main suspects tried on customs and wildlife charges.

A Commitment to Conservation

For 20-plus years, Condé Nast Traveler has recognized conservation activists with its Environmental Award. Each year, we receive dozens of nominations from leading nonprofits and, with the help of our expert judges, select one winner who receives a $20,000 prize. Three runners-up each receive $2,000. Click here for details on this year’s runners-up.